Thursday, December 16, 2010

Uncle!


Autumn in Montreal. I bet you can't wait to buy your plane ticket. Actually, it's wonderful for skiiers. I took this picture while we were on our journey to get to the bank.

It should have been so simple. Go out to the car, drive to bank and come back. Well, we went out to the car but the key wouldn't turn the lock. So we walked over to the shopping center to buy de-icing fluid to squirt into the lock. Serge, as you see above, picked up a carton of milk while we were at it. The de-icing fluid worked and we de-snowed the car's windows and bumpers and tried to leave. But the car wouldn't move. It seems there was a layer of black ice and the front wheels only spun. We worked on breaking up the ice for a good half an hour before we finally dislodged the car and were on our way. Total time to go to the bank and come back? An hour and a half. Serge put the de-icing fluid in the car and said, "We need to keep this here." Obviously, we weren't thinking clearly. The next time the lock freezes, the de-icing fluid won't be much good staring at us from inside the car now, will it? Once that dawned on us, the de-icing fluid came into the house.

I think I've already shoveled more and it's been colder than it was anytime last year. And it's technically not even winter yet. I shudder to think how it's going to be when we get back from vacay. I have been here for several "brown" Christmases, those years where there is no snow on the ground. It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that this will not be one of those years. I don't mind the snow so terribly much, though I'm learning the local tradition of despising it, but it's the cold that really chaps my hide, both literally and figuratively. I don't think I'll ever get used to sub zero temps or sub minus twenty temps Celsius. Not fun.

Alright, enough of my whining, I'll stay inside as much as possible cozy and warm and hang out with my boys. I'll leave you with a spot of Georgie porn.


Every time we take him out for a walk it's like Christmas. He jumps repeatedly in his excitement. Three times a day and it never gets old (for him).

18 comments:

rox said...

First!!!111oneone!!

I've busted Derwood a few times putting lock de-icer inside a vehicle. HA!

It snowed so much here yesterday that it took us over two hours to snowblow AND plow our our driveway. The schoolbus was cancelled too. It was -18C plus wind, so it was lovely. Our national slogan should be "Welcome to Canada, hope you have a shovel!"

I LOVE that you're hung up on the fact that it's not technically winter yet. :)

Snooze said...

Impressive how high Georgie can jump!

Trying to do quick errands is one part of winter I don't like.

CoffeeDog said...

Our Hugo jumps like that when he goes for a walk :-)

Blobby said...

Oh, I bet it never gets old for you either. That is so frickin' adorable.

Mark My Words said...

All this snow we're getting is making me think about picking up skiing again although the only thing I like about skiing is the après-ski.

The winter dryness gets to me too, and imho, humidifiers do not work - full body lotioning from December to March is the best way to deal with it.

Patricia said...

That "quick run to the bank" would've done me in.

Great shot of Georgie. But where were his boots? Does he have a coat? I laugh every time it takes me five minutes to dress both Indi and me, as close as it seems I'll come to getting a kid into a snowsuit in wintertime. At least if she has to pee once I get her dressed, we're still good to go ;)

Mark in DE said...

I don't know how you do it. I would never last there.

What's on Georgie's feet?

GayProf said...

I wish I could be as excited about going out in the cold as Georgie.

Mel said...

GayProf: Maybe if there were a stick for you to play with....

I fear we're in for a brown Christmas if current weather trends hold. So far everything has passed to the north or to the south of us.

ME said...

That pic is priceless!! It's freezing cold here in Idaho but we are fortunate that we only had snow dumped on us once and it's about gone.

JCB said...

We got so much snow here that they actually cancelled the school Christmas concert today. I was shocked. A cancelled concert due to extreme snowfall in Canada. NICE. We recovered quickly though - the concert is tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

My God. God was looking out for me when He planted me in Tucson. I would go apoplectic with rage if my car locks froze shut. I didn't know that could happen.

Thanks for the pic. Nice to see snow at Christmas.

Laverne said...

I like it warm. Near the beach. Where I am now.

Colleen said...

I can handle the snow until after the New Year. Then I look ahead to January...February...March... and whimper a bit.

Here's a trick I read somewhere...if you don't have any de-icer handy, put some hand-sanitizer on your key and insert into the lock...voila.

Anonymous, too said...

It's Air Georgie! (Maybe he can get an endorsement deal with Nike.)

And why weren't the streets salted and plowed?!? Down here, we've voted mayors out of office for poor snow removal!

Anonymous said...

It's been relatively frigid in Southern New England lately but no snow. Rain yeah, but no snow. I like it this way.

They are forecasting snow showers Monday and Tuesday. In other words, a slushie, but day temps above freezing mean no real accumulation will be possible.

fromsophiesview said...

Higher Georgie! I tend to get all mixed up and swervy wervy as I leap down the back deck landing. SNow has arrived albeit only 5 cm but at least I can drive the guys crazy. Yesss!

Anonymous said...

My goodness! That makes New York seem like we are experiencing tropical weather.

Although I'm STILL hoping and wishing for a white Christmas! That would just be magical.